BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
There was commotion over the choice of burial site of Mrs. Rose Nnebedum-Enwermokwu, a 38-year-old nursing mother, who reportedly slumped and died recently following some health complication that she had in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Nnebedum-Enwermokwu, mother of four, who was working in the Public Relations Department of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, reportedly passed on at her number 7, Oraifite Street residence, Abakaliki.
The Point learnt that during her burial at her husband’s family compound (Nnebedum of Umuobasi Mbala-Isuochi) in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, one of her in-laws opposed the choice of her burial site.
A brother-in-law to the deceased was said to have opposed the decision to dig her grave in the compound on the claim that, in line with their tradition, the building was his inheritance as first son of the Nnebedum’s family, hence no other family member should be laid to rest there.
The eldest son was quoted to have said that burying the dead woman’s body in the compound would mean that her husband could lay claim to the property.
The siblings of the deceased, who were from Anambra State, expressed their reservations on the development, saying that they felt insulted by the eldest son’s disposition. They lamented that the man paid no respect to the repose of their sister.
The burial was said to have been delayed till late night despite the interventions by family members and the elders of the village.
She was eventually laid to rest in the compound after the matter had been resolved.
One of the neighbours to the deceased, who does not want her name in print, said the 38-year-old woman, after returning from the hospital where she went to immunise her six-months-old baby, slumped and died before help could reach her some seconds after complaining of stomach ache.
